| Cleethorpes | |
|---|---|
| Town | |
  Cleethorpes Location withinLincolnshire | |
| Area | 9.4 km2 (3.6 sq mi) |
| Population | 38,996 (2018-06-30 Estimate)[1] |
| • Density | 4,149/km2 (10,750/sq mi) |
| Language | English |
| OS grid reference | TA310081 |
| • London | 140mi (230km) South |
| Unitary authority | |
| Ceremonial county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Areas of the town | |
| Post town | CLEETHORPES |
| Postcode district | DN35 |
| Dialling code | 01472 |
| Police | Humberside |
| Fire | Humberside |
| Ambulance | East Midlands |
| UK Parliament | |
| |
Cleethorpes (/ˈkliːθɔːrps/) is aseaside town on theestuary of theHumber inNorth East Lincolnshire,Lincolnshire, England[2] with a population of 29,678 in 2021.[3] It has been permanently occupied since the 6th century, with fishing as its original industry, and then developing into a resort in the 19th century. Before becoming a unified town, Cleethorpes was made up of the three small villages of Itterby, Oole and Thrunscoe.
The town lies on thePrime meridian, also known as theGreenwich meridian, and its average annual rainfall is amongst the lowest in theBritish Isles.[4]
In 2021,The Trainline named Cleethorpes beach the second best seaside destination in the UK that is reachable by train, just behindMargate.[5]
Before becoming a unified town, Cleethorpes was made up of three small villages: Itterby, Oole and Thrunscoe, which were part of a widerparish called Clee (centred onOld Clee) named fromclee, an old form of the wordclay. The nameCleethorpes is of comparatively recent origin,[6] combining the parishClee withthorp, anOld English/Old Norse word for "village". The earliest attestations are 1552 for singularClethorpe (meaning Itterby) and 1588 for pluralClethorpes (including Oole, adjacent to Itterby; later also Thrunscoe slightly to the south).[7]
Whilst there areNeolithic andBronze Age remains in the area, permanent occupation appears to date from the 6th century[BC or AD?], with substantial communities appearing only in the 9th century when theDanes arrived.[8]
The manor of Itterby was purchased in 1616 by the trustees ofPeter Blundell's charity for the benefit of scholars and fellows atSidney Sussex College, Cambridge fromBlundell's School, Tiverton.[9]
Cleethorpes developed as a fishing village. By the time of the 1801census the population was 284.[10] The 1820s saw the first developments of Cleethorpes as a health holidayresort, with sea-bathing and the taking of medicinal waters becoming fashionable. By 1831 the population had increased to 497.[10]
| Clee Inclosure Act 1842 | |
|---|---|
| Act of Parliament | |
.svg) | |
| Long title | An Act for inclosing Lands in the Parish of Clee in the County of Lincoln. |
| Citation | 5 & 6 Vict. c.1Pr. |
| Dates | |
| Royal assent | 22 April 1842 |
| Other legislation | |
| Repealed by | Humberside Act 1982 |
Status: Repealed | |
| Text of statute as originally enacted | |
In 1842 theClee Inclosure Act 1842 (5 & 6 Vict. c.1Pr.) was enacted. 2,100 acres (8.5 km2) of land were divided among land owners and eight new roads developed.[11] In 1848 Cleethorpes was described as:
"...much resorted to as a bathing-place, for which it is highly eligible; the air is pure, the scenery good and besides a few lodging-houses and smaller inns, there is a large hotel, built some years since, on an eminence embracing extensive views of the sea, the Humber, and theYorkshire coast. Many of the population are employed in theoyster-fisheries."[12]
The resort expanded following the linking of the town by railway with industrial towns inYorkshire.Cleethorpes Pier opened in 1873 and the promenade in 1885.[11] Cleethorpes with Thrunscoe was created as alocal board of health district in 1873, and under theLocal Government Act 1894 it became anurban district.[13] Its headquarters was established atCleethorpes Town Hall in 1905.[14]
In 1916 the urban district was renamedCleethorpes, and in 1922 and 1927 the town's boundaries were extended to include part ofHumberston (as far as North Sea Lane) and the Beacon Hill area ofWeelsby parish. In 1936 Cleethorpes was granted acharter of incorporation to become amunicipal borough.[13]
Cleethorpes successfully resisted attempts byGrimsby to absorb it and in 1974 it became the Borough ofCleethorpes within the new county ofHumberside. However, when Humberside County Council was abolished in 1996, Cleethorpes Borough Council was joined with Grimsby Borough Council as theunitary authority of North East Lincolnshire. In 2009 North East Lincolnshire Council agreed to market the towns of Grimsby,Immingham and Cleethorpes, under the 'Greater Grimsby' banner.[15]
Local residents from Lincolnshire and the Yorkshire and Humber area affectionately refer to Cleethorpes and its residents asMeggies. Cleethorpes can also be known as "down beach".[16][17]
TheWinter Gardens, a venue for a variety of events, was demolished in 2007[18] and replaced by 47 flats. During a mass boycott of punk bands in the 1970s the Winter Gardens was just one of five UK venues that allowed the likes of the Clash, AC/DC and the Sex Pistols to perform.[19] The old mini steam railway running from the seafront Leisure centre to St Anthony's bank has been extended and significantly improved whilst a cafe, taphouse, and gallery have been added to the boating lake; and many ducks and geese use the boating lake to breed, making it a pleasant place to visit. A large open air show ground has been built close to the eastern end of the boating lake and often showing live bands and hosting special events, most notably hosting the London 2012 Olympic torch relay.
A new RNLI station is set to be completed on the Central Promenade by 2025.
Cleethorpes istwinned withKönigswinter,Germany.
Cleethorpes is situated on the southern side of theHumber estuary inNorth East Lincolnshire - a unitary authority area in theNorth of England,United Kingdom. TheGreenwich meridian passes through the town and a signpost shows some distances to world-wide locations.North Pole 2,517mi( 4,051km),South Pole 9,919mi (15,963km),New York City 3418mi (5,602km),London 140 mi (230km).
Cleethorpes is physically linked to the neighbouring town ofGrimsby by built up residential estates and the villages ofOld Clee andWeelsby are also contiguous with the two towns.
As with most of theBritish Isles, Cleethorpes experiences amaritime climate. It has mild summers and cool winters. The average annual rainfall is amongst the lowest in the British Isles.
| Climate data for Cleethorpes, elevation: 0 m (0 ft), 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1959–2004 | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 14.3 (57.7) | 17.8 (64.0) | 23.3 (73.9) | 22.7 (72.9) | 26.4 (79.5) | 32.5 (90.5) | 32.8 (91.0) | 32.8 (91.0) | 27.2 (81.0) | 26.1 (79.0) | 17.2 (63.0) | 15.1 (59.2) | 32.8 (91.0) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 7.7 (45.9) | 8.5 (47.3) | 10.5 (50.9) | 13.1 (55.6) | 15.9 (60.6) | 18.6 (65.5) | 21.1 (70.0) | 21.1 (70.0) | 18.6 (65.5) | 14.7 (58.5) | 10.6 (51.1) | 8.1 (46.6) | 14.1 (57.4) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 4.8 (40.6) | 5.3 (41.5) | 6.9 (44.4) | 9.2 (48.6) | 11.7 (53.1) | 14.5 (58.1) | 17.0 (62.6) | 17.0 (62.6) | 14.6 (58.3) | 11.4 (52.5) | 7.7 (45.9) | 5.1 (41.2) | 10.4 (50.7) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 2.0 (35.6) | 2.2 (36.0) | 3.3 (37.9) | 5.2 (41.4) | 7.5 (45.5) | 10.4 (50.7) | 12.9 (55.2) | 12.8 (55.0) | 10.7 (51.3) | 8.0 (46.4) | 4.7 (40.5) | 2.2 (36.0) | 6.9 (44.4) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −10.5 (13.1) | −9.1 (15.6) | −7.2 (19.0) | −4.5 (23.9) | −0.6 (30.9) | 1.0 (33.8) | 5.2 (41.4) | 5.6 (42.1) | 3.0 (37.4) | −3.6 (25.5) | −4.7 (23.5) | −9.4 (15.1) | −10.5 (13.1) |
| Averageprecipitation mm (inches) | 48.5 (1.91) | 39.9 (1.57) | 34.5 (1.36) | 39.2 (1.54) | 46.7 (1.84) | 55.2 (2.17) | 55.2 (2.17) | 55.8 (2.20) | 50.2 (1.98) | 58.4 (2.30) | 63.4 (2.50) | 53.9 (2.12) | 600.7 (23.65) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 1.0 mm) | 10.5 | 9.8 | 8.9 | 8.7 | 8.5 | 9.9 | 9.6 | 9.6 | 8.9 | 10.2 | 12.8 | 11.3 | 118.5 |
| Mean monthlysunshine hours | 60.4 | 85.1 | 121.1 | 160.3 | 209.8 | 190.1 | 205.9 | 187.8 | 142.2 | 105.5 | 66.8 | 56.8 | 1,591.8 |
| Source: Met Office[20] | |||||||||||||
Cleethorpes railway station is served by threetrain operating companies:
Trains toLondon King's Cross,Peterborough,Leeds,Bradford Interchange,York,Newcastle andEdinburgh are available by travelling to Doncaster and changing there.[23] Connections toLeicester are available by changing at Nottingham, for services run by East Midlands Railway.
Bus services to Grimsby, Immingham and nearby villages are operated byStagecoach East Midlands. There is a bus service to Skegness, viaLouth, which runs once a day on weekends in the summer.[24]
The Cleethorpes area is served by the following roads:
Secondary schools in Cleethorpes includeCleethorpes Academy andBeacon Academy.
From September 2011, N.E. Lincolnshire SSP was the only remaining School Sports Partnership after government funding cuts.
Theparish church is St Peter's, built in 1866. Holy Trinity and St Mary the Virgin Church in Old Clee is the oldest building (built 950 AD) in the Grimsby area.OtherAnglican churches are St Francis of Assisi on Sandringham Road, and Christ Church on Grimsby Road. There is a Roman Catholic church, Corpus Christi, also on Grimsby Road, a Baptist church and a Methodist church.
Cleethorpes is home toBlundell Park, the home ground ofGrimsby Town; they are one of few English League clubs with a town or city name to have their home ground in a different community.[25]Cleethorpes Town F.C. play in the Northern Premier League - South East Division; their home matches, conversely, are played at the Linden Homes Club, in Clee Road, Grimsby.
There is an athletics club[26] and CleethorpesRugby Union Football Club who play in the Midlands 4 East (NE).[27]
Cleethorpescricket ground, known asCleethorpes Sports Ground, is located on Chichester Road. It hosts professional games such as the 20/20 cup and various county games played byLincolnshire County Cricket Club,[28] and the Vagabonds cricket team.[citation needed]
The old Cleethorpes bathing pool was demolished and replaced in the eighties with a modern leisure centre. Facilities include a large indoor wave pool, badminton and squash courts, a gym and sports hall. The local badminton club meets here.
Agreyhound racing track was opened around the outside of the stock car racing track in 1981, which was on the site of the former Cleethorpes Marineland & Zoo which closed in 1977. The racing was independent (not affiliated to the sports governing body theNational Greyhound Racing Club NGRC) and was known as aflapping track, which was the nickname given to independent tracks.[29][30] In 1983, there were plans to build new kennels and join the NGRC[31] but racing only lasted until midway through 1986.[32] The stock cars closed in the mid-1990s.
Cleethorpes is currently part ofGreat Grimsby and Cleethorpes, which also includes other towns in the area, including Immingham and Barton-upon-Humber. Prior to 1997, Cleethorpes had been included in the constituencies ofBrigg and Cleethorpes,Louth (Lincolnshire) andGrimsby.
Since 1945, the members of parliament for Cleethorpes have been as follows:
Since 1996 Cleethorpes has formed anunparished area in the unitary borough ofNorth East Lincolnshire. Cleethorpes comprises three of the borough's sixteen wards: Croft Baker, Haverstoe and Sidney Sussex. Each ward returns three councillors, so Cleethorpes is represented by 9 of 42 members of the council. Cleethorpes does not have its own town council; however, the nine councillors form thecharter trustees of the Town of Cleethorpes.[33]
North East Lincolnshire Council has three council wards within the area of Cleethorpes. As of 3 May 2025[update], the councillors are:
|
|
|
Key: (L) = Labour Party (C) = Conservative Party (R)= Reform UK
Local news and television programmes are provided byBBC Yorkshire and Lincolnshire andITV Yorkshire. Television signals are received from theBelmont TV transmitter.[34]
The town's local radio stations areBBC Radio Humberside on 95.9 FM,Hits Radio East Yorkshire & North Lincolnshire (formerly Viking FM) on 96.9 FM,Hits Radio Lincolnshire (formerly Lincs FM) andGreatest Hits Radio Yorkshire (formerlyCompass FM) on 96.4 FM.[35]
Local newspapers areGrimsby Telegraph andGrimsby & Cleethorpes Advertiser.[36]
The seaside resort of Cleethorpes lies on theHumber Estuary; thus the sea at Cleethorpes is the mouth of the Humber. There are several hundred metres of sand at low tide.
The sea front provides views of shipping traffic entering and leaving the Humber for the ports of Grimsby,Immingham,Hull andGoole.[37]
Two large fortifications, theHumber Forts, are visible in the mouth of the river. On a clear day, thelighthouse situated onSpurn Point can be seen with the naked eye from the North Beach.
There is aRoyal National Lifeboat Institution station near the pier and next to theCoastguard on Central Promenade. Work began on a new, larger RNLI station in 2022.[38] Cleethorpes Rescue also protect the beach.[39]
Cleethorpes has a large boating lake with many varieties of ducks, swans and geese. There is also a 62.01-hectare (153.2-acre) local nature reserve: Cleethorpes Country Park, situated between the resort and the village of Humberston. To the south of Cleethorpes, near Humberston, is a yacht club.
The Cleethorpes Leisure Centre was opened in 1983 to replace the open bathing pool that was wrecked by storms on 11 January 1978. The leisure centre contains a 33-metre pool, 1.8 metres deep, as well as a water slide and a wave machine. The building also contains a gym and a sports hall. In 2012, major work was carried out to the roof of the building due to water damage.
Ross Castle, a mock ruin of a castle built in 1885 by theManchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway, was named after Edward Ross, secretary of the railway company. Its height was the highest point on the cliffs. After a period of closure, the castle was renovated, re-opening in June 2008 to the public. Possibilities of a further closure have been raised after a woman fell to her death on 9 January 2009.[40]
In 2007 the town was theRoyal Horticultural SocietiesBritain in Bloom award winner in the coastal category. The town was also received a Silver-Gilt award,[41] a Tourism Award (for Lollipop Road Train)[42] and Jeff Blanchard theShredded Wheat Community Champions award.[43]
A statue ofthe Boy with the Leaking Boot was given to the town in 1918 by John Carlborn. It is reported that he was aSwedish immigrant to Cleethorpes who had built up a successful shipping business, and that the statue was a copy of one in the Hasselbacken Restaurant inStockholm, Sweden.[44] The Cleethorpes statue now stands in a pond in the Diana Princess of Wales Memorial Gardens, on Kingsway. It was stolen and replaced in 2002 and 2008, and vandalised in October 2011. In July 2012, two youths were recorded on CCTV as they frolicked naked in the pond and destroyed the fountain.[45] A replacement statue was made by a local garden ornaments manufacturer and installed with improved security in September 2012.[46] A nearbypub was namedThe Leaking Boot, but was destroyed by fire in June 2009.[47]
In 2019, a community alleyway on Kew Road was vandalized. The alley is known for hosting Cleethorpes In Bloom competition, and was a recipient of many awards over the past few years.[48]
The town is home to Cleethorpes Beach Holiday Park, currently run byHaven Holidays. Due to its former name, Thorpe Park Holiday Centre, bearing a strong resemblance to theThorpe Park Resort theme park inThorpe, Surrey, there was a glitch onGoogle Maps that mistook the two, accidentally sending people going to the theme park to the Haven and vice versa. This, alongside confusion between the two,[49] and possible private legal action fromMerlin Entertainments, the current owners of Thorpe Park, influenced Haven to rebrand the park.
There was aroll of honour atMatthew Humberston Foundation School commemorating the deaths of 42 past pupils of the school who died in World War I, but after the closure of the school in 2010, it was put into storage at theNorth East Lincolnshire Council offices. As of November 2019[update] the roll of honour was still being stored by the council, "with a view to being put on public display in a new town centre museum and heritage centre".[52]
On 22 September 1956 at 3pm aUFO was spotted for more than an hour off the Cleethorpes coast; it was seen by radar atRAF Manby too. It was a large spherical object with a glass appearance.[53] TheLakenheath-Bentwaters incident had happened the month before.
'Population Estimate 2018-06-30: 38,996'
Media related toCleethorpes at Wikimedia Commons
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